The Flavor of South Main

Corri Bristow-Sundell’s interest in growing her own food was piqued at her grandparents’ homestead in east Texas. “They raised chickens, and they had a small kitchen garden where they grew food for themselves and enough to sell. It was a very Southern place,” she says. “I always remember sitting outside shellin’ peas and gabbin’,” she adds with an accent that alludes to her own native Little Rock roots. “I think visiting them really gave me a lifelong love for these experiences.”

Corri’s passion wasn’t unmet. Years later she was shopping with the Arkansas Local Food Network (ALFN) when she met her now-husband, Jack Sundell. “At that time it was called Arkansas Sustainability Network and was just an email list,” she says of the resource that has since become a staple shopping experience for many central Arkansans.

For the pair, shopping with ALFN wasn’t a trip to the grocery, but rather part of a deeper love of fostering community and enjoying local fruits—literally. As with Corri’s instilled childhood experiences, Jack brought years of food and gardening knowledge to the relationship. After marrying, the couple embarked on a three-year startup process to launch a restaurant with locally sourced foods. The Root Cafe opened its doors in 2011, and now they’re off to the races again, planning and preparing for this summer’s opening of Dos Rocas Beer & Tacos.

THE ROOT CAFE

“Our mission statement at The Root is ‘Building Community Through Local Food,’” Jack says. To accomplish this, the restaurant’s menu features dishes made from ingredients from more than 50 Arkansas farmers.

The Root Cafe started with breakfast and lunch and added dinner to their offerings in 2017. “We wanted to do things a little bit differently at night, so we offer table service rather than the counter service we have during the day,” Jack says. “For the menu, we try to keep the same idea of foods that your grandmother would recognize—so you’ll see deviled eggs and our toast with purple hull pea hummus,” he adds.

Last year, an expansion— which resulted in 1,200 additional square feet that is used not only for seating but also a larger kitchen and an office space—helped to continue to propel the restaurant’s momentum. With funding from a Chase Bank grant known as Mission Main Street, a total of eight shipping containers were converted into the aforementioned spaces. “It’s an honest interest of ours to be local supporters and use sustainable practices. Being good stewards of the environment is a natural part of our own lives,” Corri says of the material choice. “The expansion has also taken away the seasonality of the restaurant,” Jack adds. “Previously we were so reliant on the patio for seating, and we would see a decline in customers during the winter months. Now it has leveled out and that, in turn, allows us to continue to support local farmers year-round.”

In tune with their mission statement, much of the startup process for the restaurant involved community-centric events, including organizing canning and food preservation workshops and fundraising dinners. Today, they continue to be good neighbors by hosting and co-hosting events like their annual Hot Pepper Eating Contest, Traditional Pie Bakeoff & Recipe Swap, and the much-anticipated Beard Growing Contest.

DOS ROCAS BEER & TACOS

This summer, Corri and Jack plan to open Dos Rocas Beer & Tacos just down the street from The Root in a space that was once occupied by Juanita’s Party Room. In partnership with another couple, Adelia Kittrell and Cesar Bordon-Avalos, they hope to create a casual, family-friendly atmosphere with—you guessed it!—locally sourced dishes. Cesar is well-versed in Arkansas-produced foods, having served as The Root’s lunch kitchen manager since 2012. Luis Vasquez, who is currently the breakfast chef at The Root, will be managing the kitchen at Dos Rocas. As a native of Honduras, Luis brings his own Latin American influence to the restaurant.

The team has been gathering every Monday at The Root for tasting sessions, creating their vision and tweaking recipes to taste-bud perfection. Dos Rocas’s menu will include a variety of tacos and Latin American street food along with house-made margaritas and a huge selection of local craft beers. “Jack and Cesar love this aspect, and we’ll definitely have a ‘best of Arkansas’ lineup,” Corri says of the restaurant’s brew offerings.

As for the name, “Dos Rocas means ‘two rocks’ and refers to Little Rock, and also to Cesar’s hometown in Paraguay, which is called Itá and translates to ‘rock’ from his native language of Guaraní,” Jack says.

WHERE TO EAT >> 1220 South Main Street, Little Rock

WHEN TO EAT >> Lunch, dinner, and after dinner; Tuesday-Sunday. Official hours will be announced prior to opening.

CONNECT >> dosrocasbeerandtacos.com Watch their website and Facebook page for details about their opening.

PREPARE >>>
Combine pinto beans and whole garlic cloves in a heavy-bottom pot and cover with 2 inches of water. Bring to a simmer and cook until beans and garlic are just softened, about 25 minutes. Drain and rinse. Return cooked beans and garlic to the pot, add remaining ingredients, and simmer for 5 minutes. Cool the beans in fridge and adjust seasoning when cold, if necessary.

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At Home in Arkansas offers you a look inside the state's most inspiring homes. The magazine features monthly advice from the experts to help you plan your next remodel or redesign, entertain at home, or find Arkansas's best kept secrets. It is your definitive guide to the state's finest homes and gardens, design professionals, fashion and entertaining essentials, and premier shops and showrooms.